The integration of TriLumina's VCSEL array emitters with ADI's patent-pending high-speed pulse laser driver is said to enable high optical power output in a single, small surface-mount IC package, marking a milestone towards cost-effective, high-performance LiDAR systems.

"LiDAR is a key pillar of ADI's automotive safety strategy along with radar and inertial sensors," notes Chris Jacobs, general manager, Automotive Safety Group, Analog Devices. "It will become a critical element of safety systems as functions such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and autonomous driving become more common."

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) incorporate a suite of sensors for safety features such as collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and autonomous driving functions. Future car safety systems rely on the sensor fusion of cameras, radar, and LiDAR (which provides the link between cameras and radar, as it provides both object recognition and distance measurements). Existing automotive LiDAR solutions have significant drawbacks such as bulky mechanical size, poor reliability, and high cost, says TriLumina. The collaboration with automotive supplier ADI is targeted at overcoming these weaknesses to enable mass-market deployment of LiDAR systems.

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